Major makeover for Orchard Road<\/p>\n
Bernice Han, Agence France-Presse\/Singapore<\/p>\n
Singapore's famous shopping Orchard Road strip is set to undergo
\na makeover worth nearly US$1 billion as part of the city-state's
\nefforts to become one of the world's premier retail havens.<\/p>\n
The ambitious revamp comes as the tiny Southeast Asian nation
\nfaces fast-rising competition from other regional cities for the
\nshopping tourist dollar, with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong
\nand Macau all offering increasingly attractive alternatives.<\/p>\n
Spearheading the Orchard Road upgrade will be the construction
\nof a 218-meter tall skyscraper that authorities say will be the
\nlandmark structure for the two-kilometer-long street.<\/p>\n
The skyscraper, to be the tallest on Orchard Road, will boast
\na 360-degree public observation deck at the top and a 3,000-
\nsquare-metre public event space.<\/p>\n
Four plots of sites in the precinct have also been put up for
\ntender to be developed into mega shopping malls, while more
\nunderground walkways will be built to link existing shopping
\ncenters.<\/p>\n
\"We envision Orchard Road as one of the world's greatest
\nshopping streets and a unique lifestyle destination with exciting
\nretail, dining and entertainment,\" Vivian Balakrishnan, second
\nminister for trade and industry, said recently when details of
\nthe revamp were unveiled.<\/p>\n
The upgrade plans kicked into motion with the tenders and the
\ngovernment hopes to begin renovations quickly, however an exact
\ntimeframe will not be determined until investors submit their
\nplans.<\/p>\n
Association of Singapore Attractions chairman Francis Phun
\ntold AFP the revamp was timely as Orchard Road, long a magnet for
\ninternational bargain hunters, was in danger of becoming just
\nlike any other shopping street in Asia.<\/p>\n
\"I think what we need is more surprises ... when you shop at
\nother places like Hong Kong and Bangkok, they have a huge variety
\nof goods,\" Phun said.<\/p>\n
Tourism is a vital cog in Singapore's famously efficient
\neconomy, with the sector accounting for 3 percent of the city-
\nstate's annual gross domestic product, and Orchard Road has been
\none of the most important components.<\/p>\n
Government statistics show 76 percent of visitors to Singapore
\nvisited Orchard Road in 2003 and spent $206 million on shopping.<\/p>\n
Last year was particularly strong for the tourism sector, with
\na record 8.3 million visitors, or 6 percent of all visitors to
\nthe Asia-Pacific region, descending on the city-state, according
\nto the Singapore Tourism Board.<\/p>\n
The tourists injected almost $6 billion into the economy.<\/p>\n
However, Singapore has lofty ambitions and is aiming to triple
\ntourism receipts to $18 billion and double arrivals to 17 million
\nby 2015.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in Asia, Macau is counting on its growing array of
\nglitzy Las Vegas-style casinos to lure tourists while Hong Kong
\nwill in September be able to boast of having its own Disneyland
\ntheme park.<\/p>\n
Balakrishnan signaled Singapore was very much aware of the
\ngrowing competition when he announced the revamp.<\/p>\n
\"Many cities are attempting to undergo this transformation...
\nLondon, Paris, New York or even closer to home,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We must continue to build on Orchard Road's strengths and
\nharness its enormous potential. Orchard Road will play a pivotal
\nrole in the achievement of these goals (boosting tourism
\nnumbers).\"<\/p>\n
Foreign tourists wandering along Orchard Road recently said
\nthey were already very impressed with what was on offer, with
\nIrishman Donal Barry telling AFP he preferred the Singapore
\nexperience to similar retail strips in Europe.<\/p>\n
\"There's better shopping here,\" Barry told AFP, explaining he
\npreferred the variety of shops and the clean environment.<\/p>\n
Australian tourist Carol Cutler expressed similar positive
\nsentiments, although she expressed concern the trees and greenery
\nthat are a feature of Orchard Road will be lost in the upgrade.<\/p>\n
\"I like the space, the plants and the trees ... I don't know
\nif you need any more malls,\" she said.<\/p>",
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